Health Policy Advocate

MIXTECO INDIGENA COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PROJECT

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Health Policy Advocate

DEPARTMENT: Advocacy and Public Policy
PROGRAM: Health Policy Advocacy

REPORTS TO: Advocacy and Public Policy Director

LOCATION: MICOP office in Santa Maria

STATUS: Non-Exempt

HOURS OF WORK: 40 hours/week, evenings and weekends may be required

ABOUT MIXTECO INDIGENA COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PROJECT

Founded in 2001, Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) supports, organizes and empowers the indigenous migrant communities of California’s Central Coast through improved access to health and community resources, community organizing, language interpretation, education, direct assistance, cultural promotion, and our indigenous-led Radio Indígena community radio station. MICOP offers a fast-paced, multilingual and multicultural work environment dedicated to carrying out our mission.

Summary: 

The Health Policy Advocate will primarily focus on leading advocacy efforts aimed at improving health policies and programs. They will collaborate with health care, government agencies, organizational partners, and members of the Indigenous community to expand access to quality care for uninsured and under insured individuals and strengthen awareness among Indigenous immigrant families about the importance of health coverage.

Responsibilities:

• Meet biweekly with CPEHN to co-develop campaign strategies and deliverables with the MICOP supervisor

• Work closely with CPEHN and supervisor to coordinate shared priorities, timelines and expectations

• Perform outreach activities to become familiar with community base and their health care priorities

• Participate as a partner and point person for coalition activities with CPEHN

• Responsible for keeping the coalition accountable to fulfill campaign expectations and reporting requirements.

• Track and report measurable campaign outcomes

• Organize and mobilize members to support campaign activities, including story collection, public comments, district actions, letter sign‑ons, and sharing educational materials.

• Participate in at least one statewide action quarterly, including but not limited to statewide health equity calls and Capitol Days

• Create and/or participate in relevant local/regional coalitions, contributing to their influence in the region and assisting CPEHN in developing new partnerships

• Support statewide campaigns to raise revenue, advance community health workers and promotores, defend Medi‑Cal for all, and promote people‑centered health care reforms.

• Lead and organize legislative visits, rallies, and press conferences, and recruit community leaders to participate

• Support the coalition in creating a shared analysis of local healthcare

• Recruit a multicultural, multilingual regional coalition, including neighborhood groups and Medi‑Cal recipients and manage subcontracts to support participation

• Identify campaign goals, build a coalition of supporters, conduct campaign power mapping, and assist in recruiting staff to support the coalition's campaign efforts

• Co-design and execute a local health care reform campaign with CPEHN

Requirements:

• Bachelor degree or equivalent experience required

• Bilingual Spanish-English skills required. Mixteco a plus

• Commitment to MICOP’s mission

• Must be able to inspire others to believe in a cause and to volunteer their time and effort to work towards it

• Group facilitation skills.

• Strong interpersonal and communications skills.

• Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.

• Must understand the government structures. 

• Knowledge on how the political system works.

• Understand the Health Policy systems and processes. 

• Must be able to work weekends and evenings/nights and have reliable transportation.

• Strong computer skills needed.

• Self-started with strong integrity and a collaborative spirit

• Ability to balance independent work with team engagement and political knowledge of the region

MICOP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER